little cooking fire in something of a panic; for that alarm signal is ap

I've got the beggar located, all right. Say, don't he sing though, to beat all creation? H

y; "because they generally hunt in couples. That isn't a measly little pr

ng: "there, I've found just the stick I want. Now, old chap, look out for yourself

, once he shakes his old box, and gives warning. Hit him just back of th

twice repeated. The thrillin

ake up his task once more, upon recei

sedly. "I'll cut his head off, so that he can't turn aro

ce upon the fire Frank had started. The latter noticed that his chum was trembling a little,

sure does give a fellow a nasty shock to hear that sound burst out clo

rrow squeak, was

to a diamond-back than that," Bob

the little camp near the foot of the towering, mysterious mountain; as some bacon

d brought from the ranch. As the heat from the red coals began to turn these to a crisp brown, Bob sniffed

e remarked. "I jumped two rabbits near the

I happen to know. Ten to one there's a deer in that thicket of wild plum over there. And you can just believe

we start operations? I'm nearly wild, with all these smells, and never

coffee pot, and set it aside for a

g on the frying pan with a big spoon to-night, range fashion. Sit down, and get

half as fine as it looks you'll hear no kick coming from me

ost of which talk had of course some connection w

when he said we were riding to a fall if we thought

ve that Thunder Mountain puzzle. But just think of a tenderfoo

here already,"

is cronies had time enough, unless Peg changed his mind. He might be wondering what happened to you, and thinking how the X-bar-X ranc

at other treacherous cowboy you told me about; we're pretty apt to me

nk; and then his eyes flashed a little as he continued: "but if they try

mount of fun, and, I hope, take it the right way. Your cow punchers said that when they hazed me, you know. Bu

ly. "Cowmen draw the line at it. You noticed how angry old Hank became when he h

't suffer much from that jab. But that was a bully good supper all rig

secure such rest as they neede

ight. Many times had Frank listened to this same chorus as he lay in his blanket on the open prairie, playi

the level, where the sage grew so heavily, there must have been a prairie dog village; for the sound of

freshing sleep, but doubtless they would soon lie down. Bob was already breathing h

d, and several ho

joyed in company with his chum, looking up stray cattle, helping to brand mavericks, watching th

ample of a thousand hoofs would make such a noise; if one of those old-time mighty herds of bison could hav

ominous, growling, grumbling noise was more in the nature of approaching thunder, just as though one of those furious summer storms, tropic

o prepare for the rain that might soon burst upon them. On the contrary they continued to sit there, st

r hand in the sky; and yet all that grumbling oozing out of old Thunder Mountain! Looks like we might have the biggest job of our l